Eco Education volunteer project

The Perhentian Eco Education Volunteer Project focuses to teach and support the islanders to care for their splendid environment whilst also offering volunteers a first-hand experience of community life in a traditional Malaysian village surrounded by turquoise seas, white sands and vibrant marine life.

Who should volunteer?

This volunteer project is perfect people looking to get involved in Eco- education. Moreover, it is perfect for families who are looking for a cultural experience where both adults and children can learn from each other. Other than that, individuals could also benefit from the passion and childlike wander of the Eco-club members.

Closed for 2020

Up to 6 Persons

All Meals Included

6 – 55 Nights

Start any Monday from April til September.

Minimum Age 5

Perfect for family volunteering

Eco Education volunteer Project Impacts in 2019

81 students from Besut involved in 3 Turtle awareness camps

727 people educated through eco snorkel briefings

33 hours of Coral Watch & Fish ID, 29 hours of Kayak patrols and 15 hours using the recycling machine by the local children.

109 hours of classes with over 690 students attending.

John DoeCEO

Annual recycling competition resulted in 247kg of plastic, 768kg of paper,123kg of metals and 18kg of plastic cups collected by 81 children.

3 eco club students have been selected to receive a junior open water scuba diving liscene sponsored by Panorama Diver. Students are committed to 3 scientific dive a year with PMRS, 1 turtle patrol with PTP and leading eco club classes in 2020.

Volunteer Project Details

Eco Club Classes

Get involved in planning activities for lessons during the Eco Club classes held by the projects for both Senior and Junior members. Then, execute your activities as part of the lesson during the class! The village kids are always keen to learn something new!

Perhentian Islands Ladies Association (PILA)

In 2012, we initiated PILA to help increase the income and environmental awareness of the village ladies. Each week, the ladies host traditional ‘kuih’ (Malay traditional dessert) making sessions for visitor and tourists. Consequently, you will get to learn something new from the ladies. Look forward to eating something new too! There is always room for dessert!

Coral Watch

Join the Eco club members as they assess the health of the corals in which they protect. Snorkel and free dive to witness the beautiful underwater world at Perhentian. wOther than that, learn more about the health of the corals. Done twice weekly, help the kids to collect data and learn how to differentiate corals and assess its health.

Kayak Patrol

Join Perhentian’s own village rangers kayak around the village to make sure the waters are free of trash. This activity help to reduce the probability of marine lives from ingesting plastics and other unnatural products. Subsequently, it also creates awareness to other locals and tourists alike to not litter into the ocean.

Awareness Campaigns

Every week, we visit the local bays and brief tourists going on snorkel tours about how they can be more eco conscious while snorkelling. This is important because it allows the reduction of harm done to corals and marine lives.

Precious Plastic Machine

As part of education on plastic wastes, our team also work the Precious Plastic Machine. Through this initiative, plastic wastes of Type 2 and Type 5 are collected and made into something new. You will get to learn and go through the whole process yourself. What better way to reduce wastes!

Beach Clean Up

We have all seen the photos and videos and heard the story; a plastic straw stuck in the nose of a poor sea turtle. At our projects, we commit to weekly beach clean-ups to ensure that the beach and consequently the ocean is clean and safe for marine life.

Volunteers will help us during our beach clean-up and will then sort the trash according to recyclable categories or non recyclable items and collect data on the clean up.

Malay Dinner

What better way to taste Malaysian food other than cooked by a local. You will get to have a taste of authentic Malay food at the house of one of the ladies of PILA i.e Perhentian Ladies of Association. The Malays are big on hospitality and having visitors at their house is always a great experience.

This is also the perfect time to learn more about a new culture and to educate others about your own! What a way to see the world.

Family Volunteering

This project is the perfect project for families. You and your children can get involved as much as you want or sit back and relax a bit. We can provide private accommodation at an extra cost if required.

Why should my family volunteer here?

Family volunteering with us at the Perhentian Eco Education Project is a once in a life time opportunity. Your children will get to be involved with the local school kids, snorkel on coral reefs and learn about and part take in active plastic recycling.

If you want to talk to other families who have volunteered with this project please feel free to ask.

Itinerary

Day

Morning

Afternoon

Evening

Mon

Arrival

Orientation

Water confidence

Free time

Tue

Major clean up

Mural painting

Kayak patrol

Free time

Wed

Snorkel Tour

Coral Watch Briefing,

Senior Eco Club Lesson Planning,

Coral Watch

Free time

Thur

Senior Eco Club Lesson PreparationPrecious Plastic Programme

Kuih-making Lessons

Senior Eco Club

Malay Dinner

Fri

Junior Eco Club Lesson PlanningEco Club Junior Class

Explore the islands

Free time

Sat

Joint Beach Cleanup

Wiremesh Bin Activities

Precious Plastic Programme

Free time

Sun

Departure or free day

Prices & Dates

Prices

CLOSED FOR 2020

Duration

Malaysian

Non Malaysian

1 week

RM1,196

RM2,098 ($515)

2 weeks

RM1,926

RM3,158 ($775)

3 weeks

RM2,657

RM4,218 ($1,035)

4 weeks

RM3,387

RM5,278 ($1,295)

Start Dates

Any Monday in April until end of September.

**This project is closed in 2020**

Why do this project?

Why is this project important?

The islands are home for over 2,000 people. They should be the ones who decide what happens to the islands and not tourism operators. That is why PEEP is vital to inform and inspire the villagers, young and old, to stand up and protect their home.

What is the problem?

The islands are at a vital time with mass tourism increasing each year. It is still able to keep its quaint charm. However, its carrying capacity must be near as we can observe issues with ground water and other negative consequences of mass tourism cropping up.

Join our team to educate and inspire these children for the future of the islands.

Food & Accommodation

Accommodation

Volunteers will stay at the Ecoteer’s Volunteer House.

A house with 3 sections/rooms

Communal toilet/ bathroom

A small safe is available for passport and/or money at Ecoteer House

Wi-fi internet access is available at Ecoteer House

Shops are available in the village to purchase toiletries, snacks, drinks, veg, chicken and fruits.

Main meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are provided – either cooked at home or eaten out in the village

You may refill your drinking water at Ecoteer House

Laundry: hand wash/washing machine at the Ecoteer House/paid laundry services in the village

Bedding and mosquito nets are provided

We can play CDs and DVDs, but we don’t have a TV.

Food

Food in Perhentian is simple Malaysian dishes mixed with some Malaysian styled western foods like Burger Ramli, which are a must!

Generally for breakfast its simple toast, fruits or roti canai. Next, for lunch, we normally eat out at restaurants. Lastly, for dinner, volunteers normally help cook with our team and we eat together.

Once a week, you will eat a delicious dinner when you go to the home of one of the villagers. This is the time for you to experience authentic Malay cooking and ask as many questions as you’d like.

Testimonials

Debbie Lim,

Overall I had such a great time during this project. It really is a unique, interesting experience that I’m glad I was able to be a part of.

Is it impactful to the local kids?

It was really amazing to see Ecoteer’s impact on the lives of people living in the village, including bringing up the younger generation to continue contributing to the cause.

I saw this especially during the school recycling competition, where the kids brought in massive bags of recyclable items. It was hectic, noisy and complete chaos but at the same time, it taught an important lesson that I hope they understand. I also enjoyed using the Precious Plastic Machine to make necklaces out of recycled plastics and playing with the kids when they came to the community house.

How was the staff?

I was very grateful to the whole team for making me feel welcome and supporting me throughout the experience. I learnt a lot throughout this experience, particularly about coral conservation and a little bit about Malaysian culture that I was previously unaware of. I learnt some valuable lessons and I hope I can educate other people about them as well.

Elvira,

Our family of four enjoyed our Fuze Ecoteer volunteering week very much. We spent time with kids of the village on Perhentian Kecil and together with them we made signs for small local businesses, planted various plants and vegetables, taught English classes, made eco crafts, did beach clean ups meanwhile fully involved in the life of the local community. Truly a wonderful experience!

Support our causes and buy some merchandise

You can support the Fuze Ecoteer projects and supported organisations by buying their merchandise. A minimum of 60% of your fee goes directly towards the conservation cause linked to that product. The other percentage is used for production costs.